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What is a vertebrate? |
Creature Features
Vertebrates are animals that have backbones or spines. So that means that dogs are vetebrates. Cats are vertebrates. Dinosaurs are vertebrates, and people are vertebrates too!
Vertebrates aren't the most common types of animal, but they are the ones we are most familiar with. That's because animals without backbones tend to be really small, so we might not even see them, or they tend to live in deep water.
The way that vertebrate's bodies are set up helps us do well at big sizes. Our backbones are strong, and they give us a lot of support to move around on land. Our backbones also protect important nerves that run from our brains to the rest of our bodies. These nerves carry messages from our brains that tell our bodies how to work!
Think about how a dog's body is set up. They have two legs in the back, two in the front, a neck, a head, and a tail at the end. Are cats bodies much different? How about horses or dinosaurs? How about people (except for the tail)? Most vertebrates have two sets of limbs, but some, like snakes and fish don't.
The hagfish is an interesting animal. It's usually considered a vertebrate but it doesn't have a backbone! It gets included because it's closest animal relative, the lamprey, does have a backbone.
Vertebrates vs. Invertebrates
Take a look at this list of animals. Which of these have a backbone (are vertebrates) and which don't (are invertebrates)? There are five of each!
Dog
Mouse
Octopus
Lobster
Stegosaurus
Grasshopper
Elephant
Spider
Camel
Earthworm
